Chapter 1: The Beginning
I woke up with the worst headache of my life. It almost felt like I'd been drinking but, being half vampire, alcohol doesn't affect me like it does humans, so I knew that wasn't the issue.
The memory of everything that happened crept around the pounding in my head. I had no clue how many days I was held by my uncle, and I was starving. The last thing I remember was seeing those ocean blue eyes. They reminded me of Kunzite's eyes, but with more blue… like a beautiful ocean.
I tried to get out of bed but was too weak to move. My mother must have heard me because it wasn't long before she came in with a glass and gave it to me.
"Drink," she said in an angry voice. She didn't get angry often, but the few times I'd seen her like that scared me enough that I didn't question her and quickly drank the blood. An erotic feeling of fire and ice coursed through my body. Never could I remember a time when drinking blood had that effect on me. I wanted to moan. The feeling was addictive, and I would gladly let it take over my body and soul in every sense I could think of. I had to close my eyes before my mother saw my reaction. When I finished drinking and the carnal feelings ebbed, I felt my energy return.
I handed the glass back to my mom and murmured a quiet "thanks" to her. I still felt ashamed and scared after the way she had spoken to me and was reeling with the unsettling feeling the blood had given me, so I didn't want to speak out loud.
"That was a very dangerous thing you did, Usagi. You could have died. I am your guardian, and I'm supposed to protect you. Do you have any idea how that made your father and I look to the family?" Stinging from her anger, I couldn't bring myself to look her in the eyes.
"I know, I'm sorry," my voice came out as a whisper, feeling ashamed of the trouble I may have caused. She sighed, knowing that she wouldn't argue anymore. I was known for talking back, but there were also times when I was timid and scared. What more can you expect from a girl who spent most of her childhood locked up in a dungeon?
"Get ready for school. After school, don't come home. You need to see the council. Ask one of your cousins to take you," my mother instructed, glancing around my room before walking toward the door. "It was amazing being here," she said while opening the door.
If I'd known then what she meant, I might not have gone to school and tried to change the course of history. But then again, if the events happened differently, I wouldn't have learned what I know now. That said, even if I could change the past, I still wouldn't have stopped her from walking out that door because what happened next is where my real story begins.
"How did you get the blood?" I asked my mother. I couldn't shake the feeling the blood had given me. I wanted, no, I needed more. She stopped and turned to me, smiling. "I can't say, but you can ask the council," she said before turning and walking out of the room. That was the last time I would see her.
After my mom left, I got ready for school. There was something inside telling me to dress up. I put on my uniform, but tied my hair in a ponytail and wore black heels. What was driving me crazy was the urge to wear my black collar. My mom had given it to me when I was a teenager, and I used to wear it all the time. It was a simple black silk collar tied at the back. It was soft to the touch but strong. When I was a freshman, a girl tried to take it from me. She pulled on it and tried to rip it off of me, but all she did was leave a mark on my neck. I haven't worn it since then, but something inside told me to wear it today.
I grabbed my bag and went downstairs. It looked like my parents had already left for work. I walked down the street to catch the bus to school. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining and a clear blue sky. I felt at peace, like I could breathe again. I got off at my stop and spotted Mina and Kunzite talking. I ran up to them and grabbed their hands, causing me to lose my balance as they pulled me back.
"Usagi, you're in a good mood today," Mina said, giggling at me.
"I'm alive! And this time I haven't been locked up for almost 500 years," I spun around, my skirt lifting up and unintentionally revealing the thong I was wearing to everyone that might be looking.
"I guess being locked up made you adventurous with what you're wearing," Kunzite smirked. I just rolled my eyes. He's always been a flirt, whether we were together or not. Giant flirt or not, I needed to thank him for saving me from that place.
"Thank you for saving me," I smiled at him.
Kunzite, though, was confused. "Save you from what? We should be saying thank you for saving us by almost sacrificing yourself," His blue and grey eyes stared at me with the same look of bewilderment.
"I saw your eyes when you saved me." Puzzled, I looked into his eyes and realized I was wrong. His eyes had grey in them , and I wondered who had the ocean blue eyes that saved me? I was lost in my thoughts when Kunzite suddenly cursed out loud.
"He saved you," Kunzite stated.
"Who?" I wanted to know. Needed to know. My heart was pounding so fast that I could hear it in my ears, making me feel dizzy as I waited for his answer. There was a fog blanketing my mind and body that wouldn't leave, no matter how hard I fought against it.
Just as I was about to ask again, Mina tightly hugged my arm and pulled me away from Kunzite and the trap in my own mind. "You'll find out soon, don't worry. You have a meeting with the council. Ikuko told you, right?"
"Yes, this morning before I left," I replied.
"Come home with me today," she said as she led me down the tree lined street, "The boys will have to be there before us."
I nodded my head, fully aware. The boys, Jadeite and Nephrite, were the crown Princes of the Vampires and Witches, making them part of the council. Mina and Kunzite, being second in line, were also council members.
"Wait, don't you have to be there?" I looked at Mina, confused. She nodded her head, "Yes, but I told Mother I would escort you back home. I don't think you'll remember where home is," she said, laughing.
With Kunzite walking behind us and Jadeite and Nephrite busy with the council, I was curious where Lita was. She was also part of the royal family, but not in line for the crown, which meant she was involved in all council matters.
"Where is Lita?"
"My parents called her. She had to do something," Kunzite replied, sadness evident in his eyes. Before I had a chance to ask further, we heard screams from girls near the entrance. When I turned, I saw a crowd of girls running toward a car. I didn't get a good look at who came out, but I did see Lita talking to someone. After Lita and the person went inside, the crowd disappeared, clearing the way for the three of us to enter without anyone in the way. My day was like any other day, except for the fact that I hadn't seen Lita all day and the entire school wouldn't stop talking about this new boy.
When school let out, I waited for Mina outside. I decided to read a book I'd found at the bookstore about Nyx, the goddess of night, while I waited. The book was about how she and her mother, Chaos, came to be. It also told of her lover and her playmate. I didn't know why, but I felt a connection to her lover and playmate. I was so deep in thought I didn't notice Mina standing next to me.
" Are you ready to go?" Mina asked while looking at what I'm reading. "Hmm, interesting reading, that."
I looked up at her, wondering what she met. She poked me between my eyebrows, "Stop with that look you're going to get wrinkles."
"Mina, we are vampires, we don't age. I can't get wrinkles."
"Well, you know what I mean. You're always frowning and confused looking." You rolled your eyes at her. "Well, you try having your memories erased."
"There's the old Usagi!"
I rolled my eyes. Her chauffeured car arrived to pick us up while I was waiting, so I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the expensive black sedan. The drive to the mansion was peaceful, with the scenery changing from tall buildings to fields and trees. The closer we got to the mansion, the more nervous I got. It was located deep in the forest, with plenty of room to let the wolves run free at night and far enough out of the city to keep humans away. I was so lost in my returning memories of this place that I didn't hear Mina trying to get my attention until she was screaming in my mind. I turned to her with a raised eyebrow.
Mina is more than my cousin. Mina is my blood sister. When we were young, we all made a blood pact. The only people that knew were the only other ones in the pact; Kunzite, Jadeite, Nephrite, Rei and Lita. This blood pact gave us the ability to mentally communicate and read each other's minds. Her calling me via our mind-link meant she wanted to tell me something without her driver knowing.
Mina pulled my face closer to hers, making it look to anyone watching that we were about to kiss. I remember in the past, we used to play this game to make people think we were lovers. We actually had kissed before and I feel like there was more, but I can't remember.
" Usagi I need you to be very honest with me. Don't answer out loud or nod your head. I don't want my parents to know."
"Yes," I whispered back in my mind. Mina leaned in close enough that your foreheads were touching, giving the illusion that she was going to kiss me.
"Do you remember the prince?" I looked at her, confused. Why was she asking me that? I knew better than to not answer.
"You mean your brother, Haru?"
Mina sighed. "No, the Prince of the Underworld."
"Kunzite? What about him?"
Mina sighed again and looked down at your hands, "No, the Crown Prince."
I looked at our joined hands and tried to remember if I knew the Crown Prince, but nothing came up, just a headache when I tried to think of him. I wanted to shake my head "no" and to clear my mind.
"No, I don't." I whispered in my mind.
"This is important Usagi, when you go to the meeting don't look the Crown Prince in the eye. He will be sitting next to the king."
I found this weird. Why couldn't I look him in the eye? Why was she being so serious? I was so tired of being in the dark. Who saved me? How did everyone know everything, except me? I couldn't take it anymore.
"Why? Tell me why! I'm tired of this." I screamed in my mind. I wanted, no, I needed answers.
"You will know after the meeting."
"Why can't you tell me now? Why does everything have to be a secret?" I screamed at Usagi in my mind. I tried to let go of her hand but she wouldn't let me.
"All I can tell you is that you knew the Crown Prince. Everything will be explained after the meeting. Just trust me and don't look the Crown Prince in the eye. please." I mentally sighed. I trusted Mina and it had to be big if she was begging me.
"Fine" Mina let go of your hands and winked at me. We went back to sitting and looking out of the car window.
We arrived at the mansion and I jumped out of the car, eager to get this over with. I looked up at the beautiful grey building. Anyone who didn't know better would think it was run down, but you knew what was inside. A scent in the air wafted in with the breeze. It smelled of roses. I looked around to see where it was coming from, but there was nothing to see.
Mina pulled me in by the arm, "Come. We don't want to keep them waiting."
Entering the house, memories of all the times I'd lived there in the past filtered in. Playing with everyone, learning about who I am, finding ways to sneak out or get into Kunzite's room without anyone knowing. It was surreal to be back here again. It'd been over 300 years since I was last here.
Mina led me down to where the underground council room was located. She knocked on the door and waited until it was opened by two guards. She bowed and walked in ahead of me. The room was enormous, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The full council was sitting at the table in the middle of the room. The guard guided me to an empty chair at the end of the long table. I sat down and looked up to see the king before me. He held an aura of strength. He was handsome with grey hair and blue eyes. To his right was the queen. She was beautiful with black hair and eyes. To the king's left was the black haired man I recognized as the person Lita was escorting to school that morning. He was looking down so I couldn't see his eyes. I know Mina warned me not to look at him, but I couldn't help it. Something in me wanted to look at his eyes. Next to him was Kunzite, who winked when I made eye contact.
"We are here to talk about the issue that has been finally solved." The king spoke with a deep voice, "Diamond has been on the run for more than 100 years, and thanks to Usagi, we were finally able to catch him."
I looked around and noticed everyone in the room nodding their heads.
"But it was a foolish thing you did, sacrificing yourself like that, Usagi."
I bowed my head and solemnly replied, "It may have been foolish, but I would do it again to ensure everyone is safe."
"Yes, I am aware. Not only did It made the council take action, but it also put the Crown Prince's life in danger." The King said with a frown, making me feel like I did something wrong.
"We were happy when we heard you were alive and safe." Your aunt, Mina's mother, spoke with a warm smile you'd always remembered.
"Sorry we couldn't be there to greet you the right way this morning," Rei stated, "There was something we had to do, I hope you understand. We were happy to hear you were safe."
"I understand," I said quietly and smiled. If it was a typical day, they would be hugging me and wanting to skip school and asking me thousands of questions.
"It's time for you to return home. I heard you regained your memory?" the king asked. I knew this was his way of testing what I remember and what I don't.
"Yes, I remember my wonderful aunt and uncle Izumi and Haruto, Mina and Jadeite's parents, and my uncle Ken, Rei and Nephrite's father. Also, my late aunt Mary, who did everything to try to save me from my uncle. I remember playing with your son Kunzite and you, my king." I looked him in the eye, knowing he was trying to read my mind to see if I was lying.
"Is that everything you remember?" the king asked, testing my memory one more time.
"Yes my king," I said with a bow of my head.
"Good, now your stuff was brought here already, you may go to your room. You will be under the care of both your families again. You will also be part of the council again Lita will guide you." The king said while he stood. You were careful not to look at the prince when he stood up. But you needed to know something.
"My king, may I ask something?"
The king turned and raised an eyebrow at me.
"Yes, child go ahead."
"What happened to my guardians?"
"They will be fine and won't be punished, If that is what you are asking. They will be reassigned to your uncle and aunt."
"Thank you, my king." I said and curtsied toward the royal family. They turned and I saw his feet… a memory of those same shoes flashed in my mind. I've seen them before, but can't remember where. Mina tapped my back and I stood to look at her.
"Let me take you to your room."
I just nodded my head and followed Mina to the vampire wing of the house. I was born a hybrid, but have more vampire tendencies. I have magic like a witch, but feel more comfortable with this side of the family. My urge to drink blood is the same as that of a vampire. They are also the ones that raised me and helped me the first time I was freed from my Uncle Diamond.
I followed Mina up to my room. It was at the end of the hall, which gave me privacy, but was also closer to the wolf wing. Escaping in the past was made difficult with the security outside my window. Once I got into my room, I looked around. Everything was just like I remembered. I honestly don't remember much of that day, only that I felt pain and sadness.
"We kept it clean to make sure it looked the same when you came back," Mina said, and I looked at her.
"Thank you. So am I going to finally get an explanation for everything? Why couldn't I look the prince in the eye? Why did I want to look at him so badly?" Mina opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in" she shouted and turned to look at me, "They are here."
When the door opened I saw the greyest eyes in the world. Like a beautiful storm I wanted to be trapped in. I knew those eyes. Those were the same eyes that saved me, and the same eyes that held my soul.